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A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
4 Stars
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Cross-Posted for Travel Game - North Carolina

The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America—majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaining guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way—and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).

I am not an outdoors person, not a hiker, not a person who wants to sleep out in a tent -- but for some reason this book has intrigued me for a number of years. I added it to my To-Be-Read shelf in 2012 and have thought about reading it many times since then. I was never quite sure why it intrigued me, and I was always afraid I would be sorely disappointed when I did read it. But it was the perfect book for February so I decided to finally get it off my never ending TBR list.

First of all, let me say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. All too often books like this feature an author that in all their toxic masculinity is proud to have wondered aimlessly through a blizzard, lost three toes in an accident, and made fun of everyone who can't walk 14 miles a day through the wilderness. Bill Bryson still walked far more of the Appalachian Trail than I ever want to but his approach was far more realistic and far more honest about the struggle. This made the book several degrees more enjoyable.

While there is a good deal just about his adventures on the trail, I also found the ecological asides very interesting. There is no doubt in my mind that the decades and even centuries of abuse of our lands in this country have done irreparable harm to the natural world around us. However, it does seem as though the impact to the woodlands of the eastern part of the country is by far more devastating than most. The worst part being there is no easy way to reverse that trend.

Finally, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of humor. There were moments that I laughed during the book but I expected a bit more wit and well crafted humor as Bryson told this story. Maybe I had a faulty expectation going into the book but it was a let down how much of the book was very factual and to the point.

Overall, I am glad that I finally picked up this book. It was a worthwhile read.